Corridor project nearing completion

Published: Friday, September 27, 2013 at 10:48 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, September 27, 2013 at 10:48 a.m.

Traffic on Interstate 85 in southwestern Davidson County is expected to return to normal, as crews near completion of a long-range corridor improvement project.

For the past three years, crews hired by the North Carolina Department of Transportation have worked to widen about seven miles of I-85 in Rowan and Davidson counties.

Phase one of the project widened sections of the highway from four to eight lanes just north of Long Ferry Road in Rowan County to North Carolina 150 in Davidson County. Phase two called for the widening of about 3.8 miles of roadway from north of N.C. 150 to I-85 Business, in addition to the reconstruction of the interchange at Belmont Road.

Phase two is expected to be complete by next month, and crews expect no significant lane closures after this week, said Amanda Perry, a communications officer with the DOT.

"The work on that project is pretty much done," Perry said.

The widening and reconstruction projects are part of the overarching I-85 Corridor Improvement Project. In addition to highway improvements, the project also called for the replacement of eight bridges, including the bridge that carries I-85 over the Yadkin River and the U.S. Highway 29/70 bridge.

Repairs and transition work to the Wil-Cox Bridge, which will eventually be a pedestrian bridge owned by Davidson County government, was also included in the corridor improvement project.

Crews broke ground on the nearly $136 million improvement project in September 2010 and is now substantially complete, meaning the main road and bridge work is done, Perry said. The project is expected to be entirely closed by the end of the year, according to DOT information.

"We are looking forward to celebrating the completion of that important and impactful project," Perry said.

Earlier this month, DOT opened a new ramp that allowed motorists to access both directions of I-85 from N.C. 150 for the first time.

For more information on the I-85 Corridor Improvement Project, go to www.i-85yadkinriver.com/abouttheproject.html.

Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com. Follow Nash on Twitter: @LexDispatchNash

<p>Traffic on Interstate 85 in southwestern Davidson County is expected to return to normal, as crews near completion of a long-range corridor improvement project.</p><p>For the past three years, crews hired by the North Carolina Department of Transportation have worked to widen about seven miles of I-85 in Rowan and Davidson counties. </p><p>Phase one of the project widened sections of the highway from four to eight lanes just north of Long Ferry Road in Rowan County to North Carolina 150 in Davidson County. Phase two called for the widening of about 3.8 miles of roadway from north of N.C. 150 to I-85 Business, in addition to the reconstruction of the interchange at Belmont Road.</p><p>Phase two is expected to be complete by next month, and crews expect no significant lane closures after this week, said Amanda Perry, a communications officer with the DOT.</p><p>"The work on that project is pretty much done," Perry said.</p><p>The widening and reconstruction projects are part of the overarching I-85 Corridor Improvement Project. In addition to highway improvements, the project also called for the replacement of eight bridges, including the bridge that carries I-85 over the Yadkin River and the U.S. Highway 29/70 bridge.</p><p>Repairs and transition work to the Wil-Cox Bridge, which will eventually be a pedestrian bridge owned by Davidson County government, was also included in the corridor improvement project.</p><p>Crews broke ground on the nearly $136 million improvement project in September 2010 and is now substantially complete, meaning the main road and bridge work is done, Perry said. The project is expected to be entirely closed by the end of the year, according to DOT information.</p><p>"We are looking forward to celebrating the completion of that important and impactful project," Perry said.</p><p>Earlier this month, DOT opened a new ramp that allowed motorists to access both directions of I-85 from N.C. 150 for the first time.</p><p>For more information on the I-85 Corridor Improvement Project, go to www.i-85yadkinriver.com/abouttheproject.html.</p><p>Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com. Follow Nash on Twitter: @LexDispatchNash</p>